Buddy Thomas: Remembering local tennis legend Eddie Andrews

He watched and learned from his brother, Al, and sister, Grace, and — using their old, discarded racquets — baby brother Edmund began perfecting the sport of tennis at the age of 10. Four years later, he was crowned champion of the Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island Playround Tournament in Newport.

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By BUDDY THOMAS

southcoasttoday.com

By BUDDY THOMAS

Posted Sep. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By BUDDY THOMAS
Posted Sep. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

He watched and learned from his brother, Al, and sister, Grace, and — using their old, discarded racquets — baby brother Edmund began perfecting the sport of tennis at the age of 10. Four years later, he was crowned champion of the Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island Playround Tournament in Newport.

Eddie Andrews had arrived.

The year was 1927 and the Greater New Bedford area was being introduced to athletic greatness. Although he was born in New Bedford, Andrews grew up in Fairhaven and over the next few years, he would become a five-sport standout at Fairhaven High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, track and tennis. Away from school, his athletic passion was tennis.

At 17, Andrews became the youngest person to win the New Bedford Municipal Tournament title and over the next 15 years, he dominated the sport. During that span, Eddie's string of city championships reached double figures and he brought home titles from the New England Public Parks Tennis Championships four times, winning twice in Springfield and once each in Hartford and Providence.

Throughout the 1930s, Eddie breezed his way through the competition, backhanding his way into the championship round of the city's major tournaments on a regular basis. In 1934, he won or helped win all six major local tournaments in which he played on his way to completing a Grand Slam. He won the singles title at Brooklawn Park, The Country Club and The City Championship at Buttonwood Park and teamed with Jimmy Leadbetter to win the doubles crown at all three.

And, Eddie Andrews "slammed" his way to victory more than once.

All of those wins came after a memorable and, for Eddie, forgettable victory over the player he once tried to emulate.

The date was Aug. 9, 1930. The location was Brooklawn Park, where Eddie was paired against his older brother, Al, in the finals of the second annual Brooklawn Park Tournament.

After splitting the first two sets, 4-6, 7-5, Eddie came storming back to win the third in dominating fashion, 6-1, setting up what was called "as spectacular and unusual a tennis competition as was ever held in this city."

Outplayed in every phase of the game by his younger brother and the final set never in question, Al Andrews purposely began hitting shot after shot outside the court or into the net, handing his brother a 6-0, title-clinching win. As the large throng shook their collective heads in disgust and, in some cases, disbelief, it was obvious big brother was tarnishing Eddie's well-earned victory. It was also obvious to the latter who broke down, sobbing, while his father, Manuel, who had witnessed the match, smashed Al's racquet and vowed his oldest son would never play tennis again.

Peace was eventually restored, Eddie was presented his trophy and Al would resume his tennis career. But the spotlight would continue to focus on baby brother.

In 1931, Eddie Andrews had just completed his junior season at the University of Alabama, where his 13-2 singles record had helped establish him as one of the top collegiate tennis players in the south. Following the season, Andrews was named the school's tennis coach. He was in charge of the 300 tennis players at the school and responsible for choosing the team and conducting all of the university tournaments. Because there was no salary attached to the package, Andrews was able to retain his amateur status and, even though he had to give up his final season of competition, Eddie called the appointment "the best break I've ever had.

"Even though it means the end of my college playing career, I'll pick up plenty of pointers watching my players perform against men (who are) coached by real professional tennis stars who coach the schools we play," he said.

Those pointers may have helped Andrews record what he called "the greatest win of my career." That came on July 30, 1941, when Andrews avenged an earlier loss to Frank Shields, who had beaten him soundly 10 years previous.

Shields, an international standout player with wins at Wimbledon to his credit, was Andrews' early-round opponent at the Eastern Slope Gold Racquet Tournament in North Conway, N.H., and thanks to an 6-8, 6-1, 11-9 win, Eddie pulled off what was considered a major upset to advance to the quarterfinals.

In 1954, Andrews was named tennis coach at Tabor Academy. He had moved to Marion the year before and worked as a tennis instructor in that town for several years.

In June of 1964, Andrews was involved in a serious two-car crash on the Southeast Expressway in which he suffered a serious concussion and, on April 2, 1966, Andrews passed away following what was called "a long illness."

Life was short for this 52-year-old tennis great. But thanks to a long list of memorable accomplishments, the legend of Edmund "Eddie" Andrews continues to live on and off tennis courts throughout the Greater New Bedford area.